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@atten tatrs jga'trat @fitta WALTER WHEELER, Jlt., OF N ORTI-I PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, IAHDON JENKS, AND E. O. POTTER, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent lVo. 64,466, Zz/.ted V031 T, 1867.

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'IO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WALTEr. WHEELER, of North Providence, in the county of Providence, and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Folding Cloth; and I do hereby declare that the following specification, taken in connection with the drawings, making a part of the same, is a full, clear, and exact description thereof. l

Figure l is a view in perspective with a portion of the side frame removed.

Figure 2 is a section through a portion of the operative mechanism to bel referred to.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the frame of the machine to which the several parts of the mechanism are attached. B is the roll of cloth to he folded. Preparatory to putting the machine into operation the end of the roll of cloth is to be passed over the roller O; thence down and around the main cylinder D; thence underneath the roller D; thence between the two rollers E and E srispended from the ceiling; thence down the inclined plane F; or it may he made to trayel in any other convenient way which will result in the delivery' of the cloth upon the inclined plane before mentioned. The clot-h is unrolled by the action of the` main cylinder D, to which a proper rotary motion is given, and the size of which cylinder determines the length of cloth to be given otf at each revolution. The principle of the machine is to foi-in the successive folds by the gravity of the cloth itself, each top fold hcingheld fast While the next fold is being made, the bottom folds being all the time free. The several top folds are held, by means of two sets of clamps acting alternately, against a suitable cross-bar at the front of the machine, each set being operated by similar meehanism,so that a particular description of one set will be suicient for both. G G are two rods placed parallel-With each other, passing through a transverse beam or har G atthe front ofA themachine, and furnished at their ends, outside of such beam, with the clamps a a, before referred to. Thesetrods are fitted to bearings Z1 I). They extend, at their rear ends, through such bearings, and are intended to be capable of movement in the direction of their lengths, as well as of rocking upon their axes. II is a shaft mounted in bearings set in the sides of the frame, and arranged at right angles with the two rods G G-abovc mentioned. This transverse shaft carries several cams, presently to be described, whose otiices are to give to the rods G G, and consequently to their clamps a a, the requisite movements. A constant rotary movement is given to the cam-shaft by means of the toothed wheelrH, which derives its motion from the driving-geur vD on the. shaft of the main drum D, through the intermediate train of gears shown. Upon this shaft H, and arranged over against the ends of the 'rods G G, are t-Wo cams H II, identical inlt'orm, and which act, as their bearing faces impinge against the endsof such rods, to thrust them forward, ivliilespiral or other springs c c canse the said rods to y back when the ro ds are relieved from the action of the cams. Midway between the cams I-I I-I" is arranged, upon the shaft H, another cam I, which, at a stated period in its revolution, dcpresses a treadle, I. This treadle, when depressed, causes the rods G G to be partially rotated by means of cords or chains, one end of which isA connected with the treadle, and passing over the pulley-wheels (I (Z respectively, are wound around and made fast to the respective rods G G which they are to operate; andspiral'or other springs are also to he connected with such rods in any convenient Way to.

rotate such rods in the reverscdirection so soon as the treadle I is relieved from the action of the cam I. In order that the said clamps may not press against the cloth While the rods G G'a-le being turned uponvtheir axes, the said rods G G are so constructed that the pressure of Vthe springs c c can be taken oit` when itis desired to rotate such rods, and this is donc by means of sliding collarsflocated at the rear end ofthe springs, and thrust forward at the proper moment by the forked levers e e attached to -the rocker-shaft K, such rocker-shaft being operated hy the cam L acting against the end ofthe rod It. As already stated, there is a second set of rods IVI, with clampsl ,y at their ends, which are operated in all respects similarly Withthe set above described; the cam-v shaft which gives the motions to them being shown at M', and the treadle at m. The time, ho'tvever, .at which they act is in alternation with the time of action of the rst set, andtheir distance apart is greater than the distance of the first set of rods from each otheri In other words, the rods of the iirst eet are separated by a distance less than the Width of the cloth, while the second set are far enough apart to allow the cloth to pass 'between them; but when the clamps which are affixed'to the ends of such rods are all in the position in which they are to beto hohl the cloth, as hereinafter explained, the tips of the first set and the lower sides of the second set will be in the same straight line.

It will now be seen that the mode of operation of the machine is as follows: 'lhe end otthe piece of cloth t0 bc-fcldedis brought down the inclined plane F h v the operator, and folded at the point where the lower folds are to be made, and the end of thepiece then carried up to the first set of clamps a a, and placed so as to be held by the pressure of the same against the eross-bar G. The line of cloth which extends from the fold above mentioned to the delivery rollers at the ceiling will of course overlic both sets of clamps. Before any more clot-h is delivered the second or lower set of clamps will-be rotated in opposite directions to the extent of aboutv one-fourth of a circle,.and so that their tip ends will point directly downwards. By this operation they will ber entirely clear of the cloth and be free to be moved forward without interfering with it; the rods to which such clamps are attached being separated by a greater distance than the width of the cloth. By the action of the' cams before mentioned the rods to which such clamps are attached are now thrust forward to the extent which it is intended the thickness of the aggregate number-of folds shall be, when they are rotated in the reverse direction, and stand, as at rst, with the tip ends pointing toward each other. The rods to which they are attached are now released from the action of the cams which thrust them forward, and they ily against the cloth and clamp it fast. A length of cloth is now given off from the delivery rollers, and falls naturally, so as to -make a fold directly over the one first made by the operator at the bottom, a top fold being made over the clamps last mentioned. The first set of clamps, whose tip ends stand pointing downward, are now rotated a quarter of a circle, and so that theirA tips will point toward each other. In this position they are clear of the top fold, and can be thrust forward to the requisite distance to comprehend the thickness of all the folds to be made. They are then rotatedin the reverse direction, and so soon as their tips point downward they fly backward and clamp the cloth over the last top fold. While this is being done, a fresh length of clothhas been delivered, and the action of the second set of clamps is repeated. In this way the cloth is being continuously given o` from the delivery rollers and laid in successive folds, and held alternately, lirst by the one set of clamps and then, by the other,A

the tips of the first set a-nd the lower edges of the second set, when in the position for clamping the cloth, being in the same straight ,lir.e. Inasmuch as the cloth is delivered upon an incline depending upon the degrees of inclination of the pla-ne F, and as the space below the transverse bar G', against the surface of which the topA folds are laid, is open, the cloth, after it is so folded, will hang perpendicular-ly, and the angle formed by these two planes will produce a sharp and well-defined fold, which-is of great advantage in folding cambrics or goods which hare been finished stiff.

The advantages which this apparatus possesses over other machines for a similar purpose, which employ a vibrating frame for delivering the cloth, are obvious. In the class of machines referred to the cloth must be nipped or hooked at each fold, so that it will be retained while the frame is delivering thc next length; and if from any canse the cloth is not given olf freely, a severe and injurious strain upon the fabric will ensue. Besides, too, as such frame describes the arc of a circle, the length of which is the same as that of the length of the folds, and which is to be of a. denite measure, as, for instance, one yard, and the several lengths are to be registered by a counter, it is very diilicult to adjust the frameso accurately that it will not deliver eitherl more or less cloth in the aggregate than by the register is recorded.

In a machine operating upon the principle described, it is certain that no strain will happen which can injure' the cloth; and as the extent of surface motion of the main cylinder determines the quantity of cloth given od for cach fold, it is easy to malte this extent of motion correspond accurately with any desired length of fold. A register can be combined with the machine for recording the number of yards ofcloth folded, as conveniently as with any other machine for a similar purpose in use. I

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isy l l. An apparatus for folding cloth which employs two sets of holding-clamps, or tho equivalent thereof, acting in alternation to hold the clot-h suspended by the upper folds, already made, while a new fold is being laid, and operating for the purpose substantially as described.

2. rl`he combination, in a machine for folding cloth, of the following: first, delivering-rolls or equivalent means for supplying cloth to be folded; second, an inclined conductor F and transverse folding-bar G, and two sets of clamps working in alternation, all substantially as herein described.

WALTER WHEELER, Juf

Witnesses:

Walmart B. VINCENT, Jonn DI 'lHUnsroN..v 

